Saltriovenator (Deluxe by CollectA)

Review by Paleo-Nerd, photographs by RobinGoodfellow and Suspsy, edited by Suspsy

Even though CollectA has always released models of almost unknown dinosaurs or recently discovered ones, when Saltriovenator was revealed as a new release for 2020, the surprise for Italian paleo-nerds was huge. Not long after the description of the theropod by Dal Sasso, Maganuco, and Cau, the third Italian dinosaur species would have had its first toy replica!

Although the fossils of this animal are fragmented, the studies of the three paleontologists have determined that it was a ceratosaurid with an estimated length of about 8 meters, and a weight of around one ton, making it the largest theropod of the Lower Jurassic; the CollectA model faithfully reproduces the skeletal reconstruction of this dinosaur, portraying it in a pose that is not excessively dynamic, but reminiscent of the artwork by Davide Bonadonna that accompanied the first article on the official description.

This pose, with the head turning to the right and looking upwards, gives the idea of ​​a predator attracted by a noise in the distance or intent on facing an animal larger than itself, in line with the hypothesis that the Saltriovenator preyed on sauropods from its area. The body is adequately robust, the coloration is not as striking as in other CollectA models, and the row of osteoderms on the back reflects the knowledge about ceratosaurs in general.

The head sculpt replicates the speculative reconstruction of the dinosaur’s skull, including slightly rounded nasal and lacrimal crests. The head itself is not shrink-wrapped and the details of the skin are among the most beautiful seen in a CollectA theropod: just looking at the area around the eyes makes you realize how meticulous the work has been.

The head also represents a milestone for the company, as it is the first sculpted with “lips”: the teeth are partially covered by a layer of skin and do not give the sensation of crocodile teeth, even if they remain visible with the mouth closed. It would be nice to see full coverage someday, but that’s a step forward.

The best preserved remains of the animal are the forelimbs and in particular the hands, which proved essential both in outlining the path of simplification from a pentadactyl hand to a three-toed hand in the evolution of birds, and in understanding how well Saltriovenator was adapted to predation: these hands in fact could hold the prey with force with a pincer action and penetrate the flesh with strong thrusts.

This aspect is well represented in the CollectA model: the hands have three fingers with claws and a vestigial fourth, as evidenced by the fossils, and in general, the limbs are more developed than those of the Ceratosaurus of the same company. Perhaps this is a sign that the sculptor wanted to highlight the differences between the two species.

Another noteworthy detail on this toy are the feet: CollectA bipedal models usually have bases, but in this case, balance and stability are guaranteed by sculpting slightly larger feet with very open toes. Although this choice may be divisive, the sculpting work should be noted: the feet differ greatly from the Standard CollectA, with a shape that recalls those of runner birds, and also in this case, the details are particularly meticulous.

Ultimately, this Saltriovenator is a model that does not base its charm only on its Italian heritage, but also on how it combines the proverbial accuracy of CollectA with some interesting novelties and pleasant details in the sculpture, factors that make it among the best theropods made from this company to date.